WNBA adds 3 expansion teams to a record commission of $ 250 million
Wnba will add new expansion teams to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia, according to an announcement of the League on Monday morning. All three teams have links with current NBA property groups. The expansion commission is a record of $ 250 million, according to two sources that required anonymity because the discussions were private.
The cash expansion fee of 250 million dollars is by far the largest ever paid for a new team in an American women’s sporting league, exceeding $ 110 million that a Denver group paid to join the NWSL this year.
The new additions arrive in the wake of a previous expansion lap. The Golden State Valkyries, who agreed to pay an expansion commission of $ 50 million, started playing this season. Toronto Tempo (also $ 50 million) and a Portland team ($ 75 million) will join in 2026.
It also arrives in a rapid increase in the assessments of the WNBA team. The average franchise now is worth $ 269 million, second SportyMore recent numbers, up 180% growth only from a year ago. In their inaugural season, the Valkyries are at the top of the $ 500 million list, followed by New York Liberty ($ 420 million) and the Indian fever ($ 335 million).
In September, WNBA enlisted Allen & Company to perform the expansion process for a sixteenth franchise. The Boutique Investment Bank based in New York was the financial consultant of the League when he collected $ 75 million in strategic capital in 2022. The offers for this WP round More than 10 cities have presented formal offers before the deadline, including groups of Austin, Charlotte, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City and Nashville.
The Wnba intended to add only one sixteenth team, but the robust interest pushed the championship to add three new franchises.
The NBA has 42% of the WNBA, with 42% shared by the WNBA franchising owners and the other 16% held by 2022 Investor Consortium Capital Rail. As the League expands, neither the part of the NBA nor the share of the investors are diluted, Sporty previously reported.
The expansion comes in the midst of a struggle locking of work. WNBA players gave up the current CBA at the end of 2024, and interviews are underway for a new agreement that entered before the start of the 2026 season.
“Today’s expansion news strengthens what players, fans and countless metrics have already shown: the WNBA is flourishing and a great investment,” said a WNBPA spokesperson Sporty. “As the League grows, it is essential that we ensure a CBA that guarantees that players fully share the success they guide.”
The Cleveland team will begin to play in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. In its announcement, the League said that each city was selected on the basis of an analysis of the “market profitability, long -term committed, potential for local fans, companies, media and the city and state support, practices and practices and structures of the community to advance for the factors, among other factors. ” “
The expansion continues the trend of the WNBA teams that go to the owners with NBA bonds. Portland is owned by the brothers Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bethal, who are LP in the King Sacramento. Toronto is owned by the President of the Board of Governors of the NBA, Larry Tantnbaum, which Kilmer Sports has 25% of Toronto Raptors. The owners of the Golden State Warriors have the Valkyries.
The Wnba Cleveland franchise is owned by the owner of Cleveland Cavaliers Dan Gilbert, which is worth $ 32 billion, second Bloombergmaking it one of the richest owners of US professional sports. The team will play at the Rocket Arena. The owner of Detroit Pistons Tom Gores is directing the Detroit W team that will play at the Little Caesars Arena. Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) will be the main owner of Philadelphia, with Comcast as a minority owner. Hbse and Comcast are building a new arena for their teams, the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers, to replace the Wells Fargo Center, which should open in 2031 and will also host their Wnba team.
(This story has been updated with further details in everything.)